Robert Michael Nesmith

Robert Michael "Mike" Nesmith was born Dec 30, 1942 in Houston, Texas, the son of Warren Audrey Nesmith and his wife Bette Clair McMurray. His mother is known as the inventor of Liquid Paper. Warren and Bette divorced in 1946. She later married Mr Graham. In 1979 she sold Liquid Paper to the Gillette Corporation for $47.5 million. Bette died in 1980.

Secondary sources for 1

Warren Audrey Nesmith

Warren Audrey Nesmith was born about 1918/9, in Texas, and probably in Dallas where the family was living in 1920.

He married, on Mar 4, 1942 to Bette Clair McMurray. While he was away serving in World War II, Bette had a son Michael. After Warren returned, they found they were incompatible and divorced. Warren remarried shortly afterward to Dolly Francis and they had a daughter Deborah Ann Nesmith in 1949. Bette remarried in 1970.

Later in life, Michael and Warren recreated their relationship and remained close until Warren died May 28, 1984 in Brazoria County, Texas at age 65.

Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story, by Randi L Massingill page 153 :"In May of 1984, Warren Nesmith died. Having patched up their differences years before, father and son were now close with Michael visiting Warren regularly in Brazoria, Texas. Michael had lost both of his parents now, with Bette passing away at the age of 56, and Warren now gone at the age of 65."

Dubious sources for 2

Bette Clair McMurray

Bette Clair McMurray was born Mar 23, 1924 to Jesse McMurray and his wife Christine in Dallas, Texas. She dropped out of high school at age 17. Her last name is given on the Texas Birth index as "McMurray".

When Bette was 19, she married Warren Nesmith, he was sent away to fight in World War II. While he was away Bette had a baby Michael. Sometime after Warren returned home, he and Bette divorced. Betty invented Liquid Paper, first called "Mistake Out" in 1956. Sales started slowly but picked up over the years.

In 1962, Bette met and married Robert M "Bob" Graham (born ~1918). They were divorced Jul 29, 1975 in Dallas County. In 1979 she sold her Liquid Paper company to the Gillette Corporation for $47.5 million plus royalties on every bottle until the year 2000.

Bette died in 1980, age 56, leaving half her fortune to charity and the other half to her only child Michael.

Secondary sources for 3

Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story, by Randi L Massingill page 14 : "Bette Claire McMurray was born on March 23, 1924 to Jesse Thomas McMurray and Christine DuVal McMurray....Bette's great-grandfather John Darby was a co-founder of Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia...."

Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story, by Randi L Massingill page 16 : "In the early 1950s, Jesse McMurray died and left his daughter Bette some land in Dallas. Moving to Dallas with Michael and her mother Christine and sister Yvonne...."

Secondary sources for 6

Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story, by Randi L Massingill page 14 : "Bette Claire McMurray was born on March 23, 1924 to Jesse Thomas McMurray and Christine DuVal McMurray....Bette's great-grandfather John Darby was a co-founder of Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia...."

Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story, by Randi L Massingill page 16 : "In the early 1950s, Jesse McMurray died and left his daughter Bette some land in Dallas. Moving to Dallas with Michael and her mother Christine and sister Yvonne...."

Secondary sources for 7

Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story, by Randi L Massingill page 14 : "Bette Claire McMurray was born on March 23, 1924 to Jesse Thomas McMurray and Christine DuVal McMurray....Bette's great-grandfather John Darby was a co-founder of Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia...."

Total Control: The Monkees Michael Nesmith Story, by Randi L Massingill page 16 : "In the early 1950s, Jesse McMurray died and left his daughter Bette some land in Dallas. Moving to Dallas with Michael and her mother Christine and sister Yvonne...."

Robert Henry Nesmith

Robert Henry Nesmith was born Oct 25, 1855 in Lawrence County, Alabama, son of John Rhea Nesmith and his wife Permelia Greenhill Leigh.

Martha Williams

James Dickey

Primary documents for 10

Mrs Dickey

Royal ascent

Disclaimer: The following purported royal ascent should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism, as you should view all unsourced statements, until such time as it can be given a firm foundation. Some of the below has obviously come from the detailed research above. However some has come from such dubious sources as One World Tree which is partly computer-generated. Do not cite this page as a fact for that section.